Fonds MS-2-755 - Thomas Cantley fonds

The Hon. Col. Thomas Cantley was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, on 19 April 1857, the son of Charles and Catherine (Fraser) Cantley. He attended public school in New Glasgow before working odd jobs, beginning as messenger for Western Union Telegraph Co. In 1878 he opened a crockery store, Thomas Cantley and Company, on Provost Street, which he ran for seven years with silent partner James D. MacGregor. He joined the Nova Scotia Steel Company Ltd. (later BESCO) in 1885 as a general sales agent and was elected to the board of directors in 1901, followed by appointments as president and general manager on 13 July 1915. Between 1895-1919 he travelled extensively in Europe where he successfully marketed Wabana iron ore and coal. He was instrumental in negotiating deals to manufacture ammunition for Great Britain during the First World War. Cantley served as MP for Pictou County from 1925 until his appointment to the Senate on 20 July 1935. He was active in professional and civic organizations, serving as founder, trustee, and president of the Aberdeen Hospital; first member of Canadian Shell Committee; president of Canadian Manufacturers' Association; chairman of Canadian Munition Resources Commission; and president of Nova Scotia Mining Society. He received an honorary LLD from Dalhousie in 1919 and was later appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts of Great Britain. In 1893 he married Maria Jane Fraser of Pictou, with whom he had five children: Charles Lang, Howard, Donald, Helen and Marian. He died in New Glasgow at his house, "Bonniebrae," on 24 February 1945.